ConfirmationYear I and Year IIFor High School Teens

Gifted With The Holy Spirit

CONFIRMATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Dear Parents & Teens, Thank you for your interest in the St. Francis Xavier Parish Confirmation program. Confirmation is the final Sacrament of Initiation that brings your teen into full communion with the church. St. Francis Xavier follows a two-year preparation process for reception of this Sacrament designed to help our young people come to a deeper understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives and in the life of the Church. Boys and girls begin the process anytime in their high school years, although most start as freshmen. Below is a brief overview regarding our program. Greater detail is provided at our Parent/Teen Orientation in the fall (date TBD). It is our hope that once you and your teen read this over and discuss this together, you will decide to join us in the fall for the beginning of a wonderful faith-filled experience.

Teen must be baptized and have received First Holy Communion to register for Confirmation. If your teen has not been baptized or has not received First Holy Communion, please register him/her in our parish RCIA program to receive full initiation into the catholic faith. For more information, please contact Rosie Roope at 818-568-4966.

YEAR I - We will focus on the Initiation Sacraments, especially as it relates to Baptism, and other Catholic Traditions while building community through parish participation. We are introduced to the Holy Spirit and her Old Testament Beginnings. Year I will also experience a one-day retreat at St. Francis Xavier and attend the Religious Education Congress YOUTH DAY together in February at the Anaheim Convention Center.

YEAR II - We get to know the Holy Spirit better by getting to know ourselves better and understanding why God made us. We explore the Holy Trinity and continue to explore how the Spirit works in our lives to not only bring us closer to God, but to further our relationship with the Trinity as we accept the final Initiation Sacrament and profess for ourselves that we believe in what the Catholic Church teaches. Year II will also experience a full day retreat off campus.REGISTRATION AND FEES - Click HEREfor detailed information regarding registration, fees and forms to return.

NEW INCOMING YEAR I STUDENTS:SPACE IS LIMITED. Online registration for your teen is required and does not guarantee admittance. You will receive an email confirmation from our Religious Education office that your child is enrolled.

YEAR II RETURNING STUDENTS: Even though you were here last year, you must re-register. Please complete the on-line registration form as soon as possible. (No need to complete the sacrament information if you have already done so last year). Re-register by August 31st.

MASS ATTENDANCE: The Mass is the source and summit of our Catholic Faith. All candidates and their families are expected to attend Mass on Sundays (or Saturday evening) and on holy days of obligation. On meeting days, teens will be attending Mass together and are asked to sit in the chair section surrounding the altar.

MEETING INFORMATION (Note: The calendar of all meeting dates will be available mid July and posted on the website.)

Year 1 meetings are held twice each month most often on Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. (includes Mass). Other meeting dates include the Archdiocese’s Youth Day at the Anaheim Convention Center held on a Thursday as well as the full day retreat held at St. Francis Xavier Church on a Saturday.

Year 2 candidates meet 1-2 times per month including a full-day retreat off-campus.

Sponsors will be asked to attend certain meetings with you (see schedule for information.)

YEAR I AND YEAR II RETREATS: A spiritual retreat has been proven to be the single most powerful way to evangelize our youth today.

Year I Retreats: One full-day retreat held here at SFX. This retreat includes 5pm Mass. In addition, Youth Day at the Anaheim Convention Center is an off-campus morning/afternoon religious retreat in which our teens will be participating (See schedule for date/times.)

The Year II retreat is full one-day retreat off-campus at the De Paul Retreat Center in Montebello. At the Year 2 retreat, members of our core team share their personal faith stories of how God has changed and/or worked in their lives. Real stories by real people whom the youth have gotten to know and trust in our faith community are powerful ways to evangelize our youth. In return, our youth are encouraged to acknowledge and share their own stories of how God is present in their lives to others.

Make-Up Retreat policy: Any candidate who misses a St. Francis Xavier Confirmation retreat would need to attend a make-up Confirmation retreat at another Catholic parish. The candidate is responsible for requesting that the respective Confirmation coordinator sends a letter or email to Dn. Jim Roope by April, confirming that he/she has attended the make-up retreat. Those who do not meet the retreat requirement are not considered ready to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.

CHOOSING YOUR SPONSOR: For Sponsor Information and Sponsor Form click HERECandidates must choose a sponsor within their first year who meets the guidelines from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and invite this person to walk this journey of faith with them. Candidates and sponsors are encouraged to talk or meet about once a month. These could be social in nature, and provide both an opportunity to get to know each other and to share faith issues or discussions. In Year II, sponsors are required to attend the below rituals through the year as well as the Confirmation rehearsal and Confirmation Mass during the Easter season. See the calendar for dates and times.

“Ritual of Promise”

“Commitment to the Journey”

“Ceremony of Light”

CELL PHONE POLICY:Because it is our goal to help our teens come to a deeper understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in their lives and in the life of our Church, to share quality time with each other and with our community, and to do this without distractions, we will be asking all teens to check their cell phones at the door. They will have their phones returned to them after the meetings.

ATTENDANCERegular and consistent attendance is very important to ensure that our teens get the most out of our Confirmation Program. Parents will be contacted by Dn. Jim should there be an attendance concern with their teen. If your child will be missing a session or event, please email Dn. Jim in advance at jim.roope@gmail.com to notify him. Day of notification must be made by phone (323) 791-1632.

TARDIES, EARLY DEPARTURES: Tardies and early departures should be kept to a minimum. As you can imagine, students entering a class late or leaving early can be very disruptive to the other students in the class. If your teenager must leave early, please check in with Dn. Jim or Mr. or Mrs. Ehling before signing out your teen. Confirmation candidates are expected to be inside the church by 4:50 p.m. for Mass after each Confirmation session. Minors will not be dismissed to wait for parents in the parking lot during Mass.

DISCIPLINE: Disruptive behavior from students will not be tolerated. After a warning from the catechist, and if there is no improvement, parents will be called and students who are disruptive will be sent home. If the behavior continues, a conference will be held between Dn. Jim, parents and student to determine the cause of the problem, possible solutions and appropriate action.

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND FACILITIES: Each student is responsible for respecting parish property and facilities. If damage occurs, parents/guardians will be held responsible.

EMERGENCIES: In the event of an earthquake or other emergency, students will be evacuated to the church parking lot. Minors will only be released to a parent/guardian or persons indicated on the registration form.

TEEN’S COMMITMENT:Recognizing that my participation in this program is of special importance in helping me to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, I promise...

To attend Mass regularly

To notify all coaches and extra-curricular activities teachers and directors of days or times that may conflict with my Confirmation meeting dates

To attend all Confirmation meetings/retreat as well as the parish reconciliation services during Advent and Lent. I understand that absences could result in me having to repeat the year.

To arrive early to the Confirmation sessions so they start and finish on time.

I understand the scheduled Year I retreat is an all-day retreat on campus and I will be attending the Religious Education Congress Youth Day.

I understand the scheduled Year II retreat is a full one-day retreat held off campus and that if I cannot make this retreat, I will attend a Confirmation retreat held at another parish prior to my Confirmation.

If you should have any questions, please email me at jim.roope@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing you in September!